Definitions

Helpful Words Defined

• Domestic violence - It isn't just hitting, or fighting, or an occasional mean argument. It's a chronic abuse of power. The abuser tortures and controls the victim by calculated threats, intimidation, and physical violence. Actual physical violence is often the end result of months or years of intimidation and control. Domestic violence is sexual abuse, emotional abuse, as well as physical abuse.
• Assault - This is an attempt or offer to do bodily injury by force or violence or an attempt to batter.
• Assault and battery - This is a harmful or non-permitted touching of another, no matter how slight, without a legal right to do so.
• Aggravated assault and battery - This is a battery with a dangerous weapon, such as a baseball bat, a shod foot, a knife, or other object that is either inherently dangerous or used in a way that may cause serious injury or death to another.
• Criminal trespass to property - This is entering or remaining in a house or on land in violation of a Protection Order.
• Criminal damage to property - This is the destruction of or injury to personal property, a house, or building in a manner that is willful and malicious.
• Stalking - This is the willful, malicious, and repeated following or harassing of an individual and the making of threats with the intent to place that person in imminent fear of death or serious bodily injury. The penalties are greater for a conviction of a stalking crime committed in violation of a Protection Order.
• Elder abuse - This is abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the elderly.

Additional Details

If you feel you may be at risk, call our 24-hour crisis line now at (309) 827-7070.